“Autocrats Attack Independence of Justice”

Berlin. To mark Turkish President Erdogan’s visit in Germany, the German Bar Association (DAV), the German Federation of Journalists (DJV) and the German Judges Association (DRB) protest against the continuous imprisonment of lawyers, journalists, prosecutors and judges in Turkey.

The chairmen of the three associations, Ulrich Schellenberg, Frank Überall and Jens Gnisa, demand the immediate stop of attacks on justice and journalism. “The return to constitutional standards, an independent justice and free press is a non-negotiable precondition to enter again a constructive dialog with Turkey.” The three association heads criticize:

“Where autocrats govern is independent justice and media always the first aim of anti-democratic activities. This also proves right now in Turkey.”

More than 150,000 people were provisionally detained after the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016. One third of them remand in custody and numerous of them are lawyers, journalists, judges and prosecutors. Standards of a fair trial, as set by the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 6 Section 1-3 ECHR), were violated with a lasting effect, according to neutral observers, who monitor the trials against judges, prosecutors, lawyers and journalists, who are alleged of taking part in the coup. “We call on Turkey’s president to return to constitutional standards without delay.”

Almost 17,000 of the 25,000 judges and prosecutors are member of the German Judges Association (DRB). The association is by far the largest professional organization of judges and prosecutors in Germany.

Independent justice and free press is a non-negotiable precondition to enter again a constructive dialog with Turkey